Hi Diliny,

Thank you for taking the time to write such a thoughtful response. I really appreciate the way you phrased your feedback — it was insightful and not antagonistic. After reading the feedback from you and several other readers, I can see how my short portrayal of the best qualities of Beth has told an incomplete picture. I’ll speak from a relationship I know better — my own. My boyfriend shares all the same qualities Beth has. I didn’t want to write about him but I can share what happens to that person when times get tough. It doesn’t mean they are not allowed to voice that they are unhappy or that they never get down. It simply means that they respond instead of reacting. They create space to talk through things and also try their best to project empathy instead of anger first. I hope that made sense. I’d love to hear more about whether you thought that resonated or if it still fell flat. I love knowing what is being communicated through my writing so please feel free to write to me at maeyalily@gmail.com if you have more thoughts. If not, I hope you’ll continue to read my writing and share your insights on it.